{"data":{"id":"us-sc/s.c.-code-ann.-55-1-200","jurisdiction":"us-sc","citation":"S.C. Code Ann. § 55-1-200","heading":"Definitions.","body":"For the purposes of this article:\n(1) \"Unmanned aircraft system (UAS)\" or \"drone\" refers to any aircraft, as defined by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, or any unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), operated remotely without a pilot onboard.\n(2) \"Commercial drone operator\" means any person operating, landing, or taking off a drone for business purposes in compliance with FAA regulations including, but not limited to, 14 CFR Part 107, or any successor statue or regulation.\n(3) \"Recreational drone operator\" means any person operating, landing, or taking off a drone for personal use in accordance with FAA regulations and recreational guidelines including, but not limited to, 49 USC Section 44809 or any successor statue or regulation.\n(4) \"Controlled airspace\" refers to areas where drone operations are prohibited or require prior authorization, including FAA-designated UAS flight-restricted areas and certain locations designated by the Aeronautics Commission.\n(5) \"Military installation\" means:\n(a) any state or federal military base, fort, camp, post, station, home port, depot, arsenal, training range, testing range, airfield, air station, shipyard, port facility, or other military facility of similar character, that:\n(i) is owned, operated, or otherwise controlled by the United States or this State;\n(ii) is used primarily for official military operations, training, testing, support, maintenance, or housing; and\n(iii) is subject to controlled access or security measures;\n(b) the term includes any facility described in subsection (5)(a) that is under the jurisdiction or control of the United States Department of Defense or a secretary of a military department, and facilities under the control of the South Carolina National Guard, the Adjutant General, the South Carolina State Guard, or any other component of the state militia;\n(c) the term also includes any United States military vessel or ship, including United States Navy vessels and United States Coast Guard cutters, while operating, transiting, or in port within the territorial waters of this State;\n(d) the term does not include a state or federally owned, operated, or otherwise controlled publicly accessible facility that is primarily used for military recruitment, outreach, administrative services, or other activities conducted in a commercial storefront, kiosk, leased office space, or other similar location or facility, that is not restricted for military operations or training.\n(6) \"Operate\" or \"operating a drone\" means to manipulate or control a drone in flight, including managing its flight path, altitude, or automated flight functions, whether directly or through an automated or preprogrammed system.\n(7) \"Take off and landing site\" means the location from which a drone is launched into flight or to which it is intentionally returned and recovered, including any temporary or mobile launch point used during an operation.\n(8) \"Take off\" means to initiate or cause the ascent of an unmanned aircraft or drone from ground or surface contact into flight, whether directly or through an automated or preprogrammed system.\n(9) \"Land\" means to intentionally cause or direct an unmanned aircraft or drone to descend from flight to ground or surface contact, whether directly or through an automated or preprogrammed system.\n(10) \"Weaponize\" means to equip, modify, or configure an unmanned aircraft system with any explosive, destructive device, firearm, hazardous substance, or any other item designed to cause and capable of causing death, bodily injury, or property damage.\n(11) \"Correctional facility\" or \"detention facility\" means any federal, state, county, municipal, or multijurisdictional jail, prison, prison camp, overnight lockup, local detention facility, juvenile detention facility, or state correctional facility that is used to confine or detain persons charged with or convicted of any criminal offense or violation of a court order.","path":["Title 55 - AERONAUTICS","CHAPTER 1 General Provisions","ARTICLE 3 Drone Regulation and Public Safety"],"source_url":"https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t55c001.php","current_through":"2026 Session of the General Assembly","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-10-25T04:24:40Z","sha256":"057d3744769fab939c5ce6163c048c4af4830d0b083be5e04f216c2b82fd8b5d","source_id":"us-sc","stale":false,"prev":"us-sc/s.c.-code-ann.-55-1-100","next":"us-sc/s.c.-code-ann.-55-1-210"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}